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"We Don't Live On Welfare"- Amokachi Backs Movement Of Nigerian Players To China

Former Super Eagles striker Daniel 'the Bull' Amokachi has come out in support of African players who have been lured to the far e...

Former Super Eagles striker Daniel 'the Bull' Amokachi has come out in support of African players who have been lured to the far east to play in the Chinese Super League.With the league resuming last week, a lot of fixtures were represented by Africans with John Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo, Brown Ideye, Anthony Ujah, and Obafemi Martins representing Nigeria in the burgeoning league.Speaking to BBC Football, the former assistant coach of Nigeria was quite understandable in the decisions Africans made in moving to China."We play football because we want to make a living," said Amokachi."We don't have that platform whereby everything has already been set for us from the day we were born - like Europeans. We don't live on welfare."The F.A Cup winner explained the lack of financial support explains the migration to the Asian country and that the ambition of certain players should not be questioned citing Mikel Obi who bagged a lot of trophies during his time with Chelsea.The midfielder joined Tianjin Teda in January after failing to feature for the Blues this season."Mikel played for a top team in Europe and won practically everything that he needs to win as a footballer," Amokachi said"What's left for him is to make a lot of zeros to secure his future and that of his kids and family back home."The JS Hercules' manager urged Nigerian coaches not to to leave out the players in China when picking players for the Super Eagles."Don't forget that the Chinese are very physical when it comes to training," he explained."I think the players will be fit but match fitness is a different ball game. That's why it's important for a manager to look at players who have that 90 minutes week in week out."This week, Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr left Mikel, Ighalo and Brown out of the squad for this month's friendlies against Senegal and Burkina Faso.This was to allow the trio time to settle in China, while also giving an opportunity to younger players to have their chance.